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Her thefts were discovered in July when one victim contacted the agency to tell them £130 had gone missing from her handbag and she believed Smyth was the culprit.

When police searched her home they discovered stolen items and also found traces of cocaine in several of her bags.

A number of similar incidents in the preceding months were then linked to the carer and she was charged with 11 counts of theft by an employee.

Appearing at Maidstone Magistrates' Court, a sobbing Smyth admitted possession of cocaine, theft and stealing a wallet containing £100 while on bail in September.

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statements from the victims were read on court

Deborah Jones prosecuting read statements to the court in which one victim said she had been caused a great deal of stress by the theft of her grandparents' jewellery and had passed out four times due to lack of sleep.

Having my jewellery stolen pretty much finished me off

Victim

She said: "Having my jewellery stolen pretty much finished me off. I cannot believe a carer would do this."

Another victim added she felt betrayed after giving Smyth supermarket vouchers and gifts for her children.

While one man said: "The jewellery she stole had been passed down by my family over 50 years. We invited her into our home and trusted her."

One woman's purse containing a photo of her late husband and £100 was taken. It was later recovered minus the cash.

Mrs Jones told magistrates Smyth had sold many of the items to Gem Antiques and Pickwick Pawnbrokers in Maidstone and in total had taken £3,446 in cash and "well over" £5,000 of jewellery.

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A victim said she felt betrayed by Smyth

She asked the court to send the case to Maidstone Crown Court due to the severity of the offending.

John Roberts, defending, agreed with Mrs Jones' view and as a result offered no mitigation.

Smyth was released on unconditional bail to be sentenced at Maidstone Magistrates' Court at a date to be decided.